I hold his eyes. I let him bully me into taking a shot of whiskey. But, in the end, we do get down to working out all the details.
He wants me to go in to the bar where Jake drinks. Act as the buyer and the stool pigeon.
There is no need for it, that’s just how McCleary wants to see it go down. It’s how he’ll get his jollies.
But I’ll do it. To right a wrong, to make some Jessica and Mimi safe, I’ll do it.
Black Annie a biker bar way out in the hills. A gray wood building in a clearing, surrounded by scrub and trees, Black Annie is on the end of a winding track. About fifty bikes are parked outside and I go in ahead, with no choice but to trust McCleary to keep his word. I take a cell phone, set to record—in a biker bar, that on its own is enough to get me killed. If I can get through the rest of this evening without being made to take another drink, that would be a bonus. I’m already buzzing and glistening with sweat.
No such luck. As soon as I step inside Black Annie, Jake sees me and approaches. Hostile, aggressive. I tell him, “Wait. We got off on the wrong foot. I just wonder if you got some…” I look around the bar, furtive.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you were a lowlife junkie.”
“I haven’t had gotten the tattoo on my forehead yet.”
Jake is still suspicious, but only until I show him some money. I give him a pleading look of desperation. The sweat from the beers and whiskey makes it all look good. I let him think I’m humiliating myself, desperate for the meth. Make desperate sad puppy eyes so he feels like I’m already beaten and now he’s going to take my money. He probably imagines making me beg. Maybe slap me around some.
I leave him in the bar on his home ground, tell him I’ll wait outside to meet him, and he buys the story.
It all goes exactly according to plan. Jake comes out with the package, I take out the money again. McCleary waits for the exchange, for me to take the package. All good.
Only, McCleary takes the money from Jake before he takes him down for supplying. Then he turns with a grin and says he’s going to bust me for possession.
I had no clue, but Crane was there in the shadows, watching over me like a Mama cat. He steps out and lays a huge paw on McCleary’s shoulder. Says quietly into his ear, “Nothing God screwed up is more despised in a biker bar than a bent fucking cop, McCleary. You would be one shakedown over the edge here.”
Looking like a bulldog chewing a wasp, McCleary ties Jake’s wrists with a zip tie, puts him in the back of his cruiser. Walks back over to me and says, “You got your man. You got what you wanted. I’ll be watching out for you.”
“One thing, McCleary.”
“What?”
“I gave you the collar, you’ll take the credit. I need twenty seconds with your suspect.”
“Oh, no. You’re not pulling no vigilante stunts on my turf, boy.”
“No, I’m going to tell him something is all. And you’ll benefit from it, to. It’s your lucky night, McCleary. Buy one cleared-up crime, get one more free.” I’m not giving him a choice and he knows I’m telling him the truth.
Jake, sitting in the back seat of the cruiser, I make him stretch to lean his ear, up to the two-inch gap where the back window is open.
I tell him, “You know, asshole, the cops could get petty detailed information about your associates with the meth lab. If the lab got busted while you were in being questioned, people would think you gave them up.”
I watch his eyes bulge and his jaw works. ‘Roids. Very bad for the temperament. I tell him, “That would make your career in jail painful and real short. You would find yourself very dead, too. Real soon.” He hits his head against the window. as he shakes.
“You need to have a full and complete Come to Jesus moment, asshole. Give it up about Tandi’s bust. And I mean real fast, asshole. Otherwise, you better be at peace with your maker. You know what I’m saying?”
The anger on his face says he’ll do the right thing, but you never know ‘till it’s done.
Feeling hollow and rusty and bad in more ways than I can stand, I stop in a liquor store on my way home.
Chapter 14 Jessica
I can’t find Christian.
He doesn’t answer his phone and somebody else is doing security at Lil’ Blossoms. I asked Karen if she knew anything about Christian, where he was, what was happening. No way was she going to tell me anything. I watched her eyes when I asked her about him. Karen doesn’t give much away but the look on her face does not give me encouragement.
It’s day three and I’m feeling desperate. I told myself not to expect to see him again. I know I shouldn’t be hoping for anything. He’s too fine and too good a man to be bothered with a little mess like me. Still, I’m howling inside.
Then I can’t get a hold of Tandi. She doesn’t call at the regular time and I don’t know what’s going on.
Mimi knows something is wrong. She keeps close to me. Sits by when she’s reading. Asks me to watch her streaming show with her.
After I’ve settled Mimi to sleep with a story, I’m thinking I’ll allow myself a beer. My phone rings. I
